Instruction in chemical analysis : (Qualitative) / With a preface by Prof. Liebig. Edited by J.L. Bullock.
- Carl Remigius Fresenius
- Date:
- 1846
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Instruction in chemical analysis : (Qualitative) / With a preface by Prof. Liebig. Edited by J.L. Bullock. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![§ 17.] Uses.—We use water* principally as a simple solvent for a great variety of substances. It serves moreover to effect the transformation of several neutral metallic salts into soluble acid, and insoluble basic compounds; this is the case particularly with chloride of antimony and with the salts of bismuth, § 17. 2. alcohol. (C4 H6 O2= Ae 0 + Aq.) Preparation.—Two sorts of alcohol are used in chemical ana- lyses; viz. 1st, spirits of wine of 0*83 or 0'84 spec. gr. (spiritus vini rectiftcatus of the shops ;) and 2nd, absolute alcohol. The latter may be prepared by distilling the former from fused chlo- ride of calcium. Tests.—Pure alcohol must completely volatilize, and ought not to cause the slightest smell of fousel oil, when rubbed between the hands; nor should it redden litmus paper. Uses.—Many substances are soluble in alcohol, whilst others are insoluble in this menstruum. Alcohol is therefore frequently em- ployed to effect the separation of the former from the latter, thus* for instance, to separate chloride of strontium from chloride of ba- rium. Alcohol serves likewise to precipitate from aqueous solutions such substances as are insoluble in it, e. g. to precipitate malate of lime. We use alcohol, moreover, for the production of various kinds of ether, (especially of acetic ether, which is particularly characterized by its agreeable odor;) and likewise to co-operate with acids in the reduction of certain substances, for instance, of peroxide of lead, chromic acid, &c. &c. Alcohol serves also for the detection of various substances which impart a characteristic tint to its flame; such are especially boracic acid, strontia, soda, and potass. * In chemical experiments we use exclusively distilled water; whenever therefore the term “ water ” occurs in the present work, distilled water is meant.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29300940_0049.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
